The Skys been my home for most of the 90's. Keep watching the board, particularly during late winter; there is usually a call for volunteers to help clip fins on smolts. Gary Bee (Beezer) also heads the Sky Valley Chapter of TU which is very active in maintaining Sky runs. Maybe he'll respond to your post.

I have to disagree with bank walker regarding the Reiter hatchery. This hatchery produces summer runs only and during the 90's, I can recall only two seasons where the summer runs were down. Last year was down and again I think in 95. 96, 97, and 98 were flat out fantastic. The early 90s were pretty good as well, and this season is shaping up to be pretty good. A good record considering how other streams have done.

The winter-run, which are Tokul Creek fish is another story. I think the latter half of the 90s were all down, and not up to "the old stories" of how crazy Reiter can be during the winter.

If perceptions are that fishing is not what it used to be, particularly during the winter, I think it is because 1) winter-run size is down, and 2) I think the fish are unintentionally selected for fast migration. Winter fish seem to go from the mouth of the sky to Reiter in 2 days. Kinda hard to catch them anywhere inbetween. They also use to plant fish at Woods Creek (Monroe) and at the Cracker Bar (Sultan), to slow the fish down; there not doing this any more.

All-in-all, I too think its imperative that the Reiter Hatchery maintain its funding because it produces a great summer-run fish, in good consistent numbers, fairly close in to the major population areas. I know the latter means more traffic, but steelhead are the most expensive salmonid to raise, so they have to be fished to pay for themselves.

As far as nates go, I don't know how one can get involved. The run on the sky is pretty healthy, but suffers from the C&K early fishery. There have been pushes here and there to get the whole river C&R year-round for nates.

Lastly, don't overlook the Wallace Hatchery
King program. These hatchery kings have never been fished to my knowledge, so seem like a waste of resources. There have been pushes to get all of these fish fin-clipped and allow a sport fishery for them. WDFW has promised that this is the goal, but so far, nada.

Good fishing, and stay involved!

[This message has been edited by obsessed (edited 07-11-2000).]

[This message has been edited by obsessed (edited 07-11-2000).]